Paulo Gonçalves runner-up in the Dakar. An impressive Laia Sanz ninth

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The Dakar 2015 ends after circling the loop and ending up back in Buenos Aires a fortnight later, bringing new successes for Team HRC. Paulo Goncalves finishes the world’s toughest rally in second place, while Laia Sanz breaks new ground with an unprecedented ninth place overall finish.

After picking up the world championship runner-up prize last October at the Morocco Rally, Portuguese ace Paulo Goncalves has once again pulled off another achievement for Team HRC. It was a display of grit, tireless effort, consistency and teamwork, which finally brought the rider’s Rally Dakar 2015 adventure to a close as runner-up in the final rankings.

Paulo Goncalves very nearly pulled it off in the world’s greatest rally challenge too. The rider had collected a total of 17 minutes of penalties, and eventually finished just 16’53” behind the eventual race winner Marc Coma.

Another of the big Team HRC success stories from this Dakar has been the astonishing ninth-place finish for a brilliant Laia Sanz. The Spaniard claims the best ever final position in the race’s female category. Besides showing excellent riding dexterity and a true command of navigation aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY, the athlete proved herself by finishing several of the special timed stages up among the top ten riders.

Noteworthy too, was the overall performance of Joan Barreda, with four stage victories, and always the man to beat at this Dakar 2015. The Castellon rider was unstoppable at the head of the race until stage eight, when extreme weather conditions at the Uyuni salt flats put an end to his chances of a win in the campaign. Barreda’s final overall ranking was an unjust 17th.

Helder Rodrigues has, likewise, been a cornerstone of the Team. In addition to two stage victories, Hélder finished in 12th place on the final leaderboard.

Honda South America Rally Team close their crusade after a valiant effort that sees Javier Pizzolito and Jean Azevedo take 19th and 22nd respectively. HSA Rally Team offered crucial support to the riders of Team HRC throughout the event.

The rally came to an end in Baradero, with what had been planned as a 174 kilometre special, reduced by 73 kilometres due to the conditions, before the final connection phase brought the entourage into Buenos Aires, where the final ceremonial podium was held in Tecnopolis.

Paulo Goncalves

2nd+16'53

I think the whole team deserves this result, especially after all the hard work that they have done. All that’s needed now is to go one small step further and win the rally. We are well-prepared and on the right track. I’m pleased with the result, and I want to thank the whole team, but most especially my team-mates Joan, Hélder and Jere, who were there to help me out in the most delicate moments. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be on the podium here in Dakar.

Laia Sanz

9th+2:24'21

I’m very happy. Really! If they had offered me a top-ten finish before the race, I would have signed. Many said that it was plausible, but the Dakar is a highly-unpredictable, difficult and risky race. You’ve got to have your wits about you all the time. It’s a great result that I want to share it with the whole team, who have put their trust in me from the first moment, giving me this great chance, and also with the fans and followers who been with me all the way through. ¡Muchas gracias!

Helder Rodrigues

12th+ 4:00'15

For me the Dakar has been a bit unlucky I couldn’t really do much due to a couple of setbacks, but I’m pleased all the same, not just for the two stage wins, but most of all because Team HRC has made the podium with Paulo. The squad has worked really well together and now we are off to begin preparing the next one.

Joan Barreda

17th+ 5:54'35

After the problems in the marathon stage, I think that we made a great team effort and have got a good final result. I was leading the race for a few days and I won four stages, and I don’t think there’s much more I need to show. The thing that I’m most proud of is Paulo’s result. He really deserves it.

Javier Pizzolito

22nd+ 6:22'16

The last day was in keeping with the rest of the Dakar and was full of surprises. It started to pour and that complicated the stage. At the end of the Dakar, you are left with the feeling that you didn’t achieve the goal. But I think that in the race that we had planned out, we showed great character, consistency and got a decent final result.

Yoshishige Nomura

HRC President

Unfortunately, we were not able to win overall, but our riders and team members have made an excellent effort, and we won second place on the podium. I'm really proud to their professional work. I also appreciate all the rider’s great support in helping to get Paolo onto the second step of the podium. I'm very disappointed that we will have to wait another year for a first place on the podium of the Dakar. Anyway, our challenge at the Dakar continues. Lastly, I’d like to wish all the riders and team staff a good rest. Thanks for a job well done!

2015 Dakar RallySaturday, January 17th 2015

Stage
13 Dakar RallyDakar

Results Stage 13

Pos.

Rider

Num

Nation

Team

Constructor

Time/Gap

1

Jakes Ivan

SLO

Microstep Industry Team

KTM

52'06

2

Svitko Stefan

SLO

Slovnaft Team

KTM

+ 0'45

3

Price Toby

3

AUS

Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team

KTM

+ 1'07

4

Goncalves Paulo

POR

Team HRC

Honda

+ 1'15

5

Coma Marc

SPA

Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team

KTM

+ 3'11

6

Vogels Hans

NDL

Team Hans Vogels

KTM

+ 3'36

7

Verhoeven Frans

NDL

Yamaha Racing

Yamaha

+ 4'35

8

Quintanilla Pablo

CHI

KTM

KTM

+ 4'52

9

de Soultrait Xavier

FRA

Xavier de Soultrait

Yamaha

+ 5'54

10

Sanz Laia

SPA

Team HRC

Honda

+ 7'55

11

Pain Olivier

16

FRA

Team Top

KTM

+ 7'59

12

Casteu David

9

FRA

Team Casteu

KTM

+ 8'16

13

Gyenes Emanuel

ROU

Autonet Motorcycle Team

KTM

+ 8'35

14

Planet Fabien

FRA

Sherco TVS Rally Factory

Sherco

+ 9'13

15

Ceci Paolo

ITA

Chavo Salvatierra Racing

KTM

+ 9'19

16

Pizzolito Javier

ARG

Honda South America Rally Team

Honda

+ 10'48

17

Azevedo Jean

BRA

Honda South America Rally Team

Honda

+ 16'21

18

Rodrigues Helder

POR

Team HRC

Honda

+ 35'32

19

Barreda Joan

SPA

Team HRC

Honda

+ 42'44

2015 Dakar RallySaturday, January 17th 2015

Stage
13 Dakar RallyDakar

Final standings Dakar Rally 2015

Pos.

Rider

Num

Nation

Team

Constructor

Time/Gap

1

Coma Marc

SPA

Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team

KTM

46:03'49

2

Goncalves Paulo

POR

Team HRC

Honda

+ 16'53

3

Price Toby

3

AUS

Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team

KTM

+ 23'14

4

Quintanilla Pablo

CHI

KTM

KTM

+ 38'38

5

Svitko Stefan

SLO

Slovnaft Team

KTM

+ 44'17

6

Faria Ruben

POR

Husqvarna Factory Rally Team

Husqvarna

+ 1:57'50

7

Casteu David

9

FRA

Team Casteu

KTM

+ 2:00'14

8

Jakes Ivan

SLO

Microstep Industry Team

KTM

+ 2:18'18

9

Sanz Laia

SPA

Team HRC

Honda

+ 2:24'21

10

Pain Olivier

16

FRA

Team Top

KTM

+ 3:09'09

12

Rodrigues Helder

POR

Team HRC

Honda

+ 4:00'15

17

Barreda Joan

SPA

Team HRC

Honda

+ 5:54'35

19

Pizzolito Javier

ARG

Honda South America Rally Team

Honda

+ 6:22'16

22

Azevedo Jean

BRA

Honda South America Rally Team

Honda

+ 6:44'13

Gallery

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Team HRC Dakar Rally 2015 - Stage 13

The Dakar 2015 ends after circling the loop and ending up back in Buenos Aires a fortnight later, bringing new successes for Team HRC. Paulo Goncalves finishes the world’s toughest rally in second place, while Laia Sanz breaks new ground with an unprecedented ninth place overall finish.

Team HRC Dakar Rally 2015

Team HRC Dakar Rally 2015 - Stage 13 - Behind the Scenes

Location Information

The greatest and toughest rally in the world, the Dakar’s history has been written in the heart of some of the world’s most stunning deserts and belongs to the world of the greatest sporting challenges of our time. Both a motor race and an orienteering challenge, the Dakar Rally pits… read more.

Location Information

The greatest and toughest rally in the world, the Dakar’s history has been written in the heart of some of the world’s most stunning deserts and belongs to the world of the greatest sporting challenges of our time. Both a motor race and an orienteering challenge, the Dakar Rally pits… read more.